history

Horse riding is a sports event to decide who rides faster on horseback and who performs more spectacular stunts on horseback.

The DPRK has a very long history of breeding horse.

Therefore, such proverbs and idioms related to horse as “Old horse knows the way (Wisdom comes with age)” have been passed on among the people.

The Koreans have bred many horses of native kinds suitable for breeding in the mountainous and rugged terrain of the country since long time ago.   

The excellent riding skills of the ancestors were inherited and developed at a high level, with such contents as handling weapons and hurdling on horseback being added to them.

The best horse riders in the history of the country were the Koguryo people.

The technical contents of horse riding include preparation for horse riding, making friends with horse, methods of mounting and dismounting a horse, standard sitting position, learning how to ride at a walking pace, quick pace and gallop and others.

Horsemanship is particularly conspicuous in horse riding.

It is literally performing stunts on horseback, including those of standing on a running horse, turning over from one side to the other by holding the saddle and dragging feet on the ground by clinging to the horse, hiding the body by clinging to the side of the horse, and headstand on saddle.

It is said that if people learn horse riding in their childhood, they will be able to not only cultivate bravery and boldness, but also develop self-confidence in matters and phenomena through the course of trying to control horses as they desire, and concentration and the spirit of study, thus getting into a good habit of not remaining indifferent to matters and phenomena.

Horse riding, which has long and close relations with the Korean people historically, was inscribed as a national intangible cultural heritage element last year.

Full conditions have been provided to enjoy horse riding in the DPRK.

The people enjoy horse riding at the modern public riding service centres including the Mirim Riding Club and the South Phyongan Provincial Riding Club and the enthusiasm for riding is growing among youth and children with the passage of time.